JP2007143863A - Drum type game machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a drum type game machine capable of checking fraudulent lending of game media using a counterfeit card medium or the like, easily finding a fraudulent action and minimizing the spread of damages or the like. <P>SOLUTION: A slot machine (1) is equipped with a CR lending unit (50) and lends out tokens within the range of values stored by an inserted card medium, and after the tokens are lent out, a performance accompanied by light or sound different from usual performance is executed when credits are adjusted before prescribed time elapses. Thus, the unnatural operation action of repeatedly lending out the tokens in a short period of time or the like is reported around and the damages by the fraudulent action using the counterfeit card medium or the like are minimized. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention is a revolving type equipped with a function of accepting a card-shaped information storage medium, for example, and lending a game medium such as a medal to a player within a range of game values such as a point balance stored in the information storage medium. It relates to gaming machines.

  In general, a spinning-reel game machine represented by a slot machine plays a game by betting the inserted medals, and the medals bet by satisfying a winning condition such as a plurality of variably displayed symbols are arranged. Is offering a game that pays out to players with a dividend.

  Conventionally, a lot of slot machines installed in game stores such as pachinko halls are provided with medal lending units generally called pedestal machines adjacent to each gaming machine, and a player puts cash into the medal lending unit. As a result, a predetermined number of medals were lent out. On the other hand, in recent years, for the purpose of improving accountability for players and clear accounting management such as sales at stores, membership registration has been carried out by embedding prepaid cards made of magnetic cards or IC memory or IC tags. A slot machine equipped with a CR (Card Reader) lending unit corresponding to a membership card or the like that can identify a player has also become widespread (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  According to the slot machine having such a medal lending function, the player inserts the purchased prepaid card into a predetermined insertion slot to read the point balance (game value), and the CR lending unit or slot machine By pressing the lending switch provided on the console, medals can be lent within the range of the point balance.

  Here, in general, in the CR lending unit, the number of medals lent out to a player by one lending operation is set to, for example, 50, and a credit corresponding to this number (the number of consumable medals stored in the gaming machine) ) Is added to the slot machine, and medals are lent out. Further, as a result of renting out medals, when the upper limit of credits (for example, 50) is exceeded, the excess number of medals are paid out to the tray of the slot machine.

JP 2005-304934 A

  Recently, however, medals are lent out from the above-mentioned CR lending unit using a counterfeit card medium in which stored data in a card-like information storage medium such as a prepaid card (hereinafter referred to as “card medium”) is illegally rewritten. There has been a problem of fraudulent acts (goto acts).

  That is, even if such a counterfeit card is used in a gaming store, it is difficult to determine at a glance whether it is due to a legitimate act using a legitimate card. In many cases, illegal lending operations are repeated in a short period of time and a large number of medals are acquired before leaving. Therefore, illegal activities cannot be fully captured on the site, leading to an increase in damage.

  The present invention has been made in view of these conventional problems, and checks or makes it difficult to illegally lend game media using counterfeit card media, etc., and facilitates the discovery of such fraudulent activities. Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a revolving game machine that can minimize the expansion of damage caused by fraud.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the invention described in claim 1 is a rotary type gaming machine including a game medium lending device that lends game media to be used for a game in accordance with a player's operation. A lending operation unit for performing an operation for requesting lending of game media, a lending processing unit for lending to a player by operating the lending operation unit and internally storing a predetermined number of game media according to the operation thereof, and a game A payout operation unit for performing an operation for requesting a refund of the game medium stored in the revolving game machine, and a refund of the game medium stored in accordance with the operation of the checkout operation unit A settlement processing means, a timer that starts counting time triggered by the operation of the lending operation unit, and the settlement operation before the timer that has started counting from the operation of the lending operation unit indicates the passage of a predetermined time. When part there was a refund of the game medium by the settlement processing means is operated, characterized in that it comprises a settlement presentation means for performing an effect with a light or sound, a.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the settlement directing means is configured such that after the game medium is requested to be rented and the lending operation unit is operated, the timer that starts counting when the lending operation unit is operated is a predetermined time. When the settlement operation unit is further operated and the game medium is refunded by the settlement processing means before the progress of, the effect accompanied by light or sound is performed.

  According to the invention of the swivel type gaming machine according to claim 1, for example, immediately after the fraudster operates the lending operation unit to obtain a large amount of game media using a counterfeit card medium (predetermined time) When the settlement operation unit is operated before the progress), an effect with light or sound is performed, and this operation action is notified to the surroundings as an unnatural thing. As a result, it is possible to frustrate or restrain the intention to commit fraud, and it becomes easy to find such fraud, so damage can be minimized.

  Hereinafter, a slot machine 1 equipped with an adjacent CR lending unit 50 that lends medals using a prepaid card, which is an example of a card medium, will be described as an embodiment of a swivel type gaming machine according to the present invention. . Here, FIG. 1 is a front view showing the front external structure of the main body of the slot machine 1 and the CR lending unit 50 adjacent thereto. As will be described later, the CR lending unit 50 is connected to the main body of the slot machine 1 so as to communicate with each other via serial communication.

  A card insertion slot 51 is formed at a predetermined position on the front surface of the CR lending unit 50 for accepting insertion of a prepaid card and discharging the prepaid card loaded when the card is returned.

  In the present embodiment, a prepaid card that magnetically codes a game value exchanged for medals as a point balance and stores it in an updatable manner as an information storage medium used when renting medals usable in a game of the slot machine 1 is used. As will be described by way of example, in carrying out the present invention, an IC card in which an IC chip memory that can be electromagnetically accessed from the outside is embedded may be used. Or the like. Furthermore, the information storage medium does not necessarily need to store the game value, and may be, for example, a membership card mounted with an IC tag or an IC memory. A method may be adopted in which medal lending is permitted by being specified, and the CR lending unit 50 cooperates with an external platform such as a card company via a network to settle the amount spent on lending.

  Next, the main body of the slot machine 1 has a hinge mechanism (not shown) in which the front door 3 having a so-called front mask formed on the side facing the player is opposed to the opening side of the housing which is a substantially rectangular box. It is attached so that it can be opened and closed. The front mask is roughly divided into an upper panel portion, a middle panel portion, and a lower panel portion from the top, and these are integrally formed of a hard plastic designed to enhance the visual effect as a decorative board. A tray unit 4 including a tray 4a for storing medals is provided below the lower panel portion.

  The upper panel is provided with effect lamps such as corner lamps 5a and 5b and an upper lamp 5c with built-in high-intensity light-emitting diodes (LEDs). We produce visual appeal. In addition, sound emitting portions 6a and 6b each having a built-in speaker are provided at the left and right positions of the upper panel portion, respectively, and a game is produced with sound effects and musical sounds. Furthermore, an image display unit 7 having a liquid crystal display unit (71) is formed at a central position between the sound emitting units 6a and 6b.

  Note that the image display unit 7 displays a moving image that is appropriately selected according to the progress of the game to give the game a story, or a more dynamic image in the case of a big hit such as a bonus game. Is displayed, causing the player to have a high payout expectation.

  An acrylic middle panel plate 8 having a substantially rectangular transparent display window 8a formed at the center is attached to the middle middle panel portion. And it is comprised so that a player can see three cylindrical reels 10a, 10b, 10c provided in the housing | casing through this display window 8a.

  For example, 21 identification symbols including a plurality of different types are arranged at substantially equal intervals on the peripheral surfaces of the reels 10a, 10b, and 10c, and the identification symbols are arranged in three vertical rows and three horizontal rows facing the display window 8a. Is visually recognized by the player through the display window.

  In addition, the middle panel board 8 is lit with a lamp or the like provided on the back, and displays, for example, information on a stop order for establishing a winning combination and assists the slot machine 1 with credit (internal Numeric information display sections 8c for numerically displaying information such as the number of stored medals, the number of medals earned by winning, or the number of winning winning combinations are provided around the display window 8a.

  Below the middle panel plate 8 is formed a table-like portion called a console that slightly protrudes forward, and includes a medal insertion portion 11 having an insertion slot for inserting medals used in the game, and a game Are provided with a bet button 12, a start lever 13, and three stop buttons 14a, 14b, and 14c.

  The bet button 12 is a push-type button switch for presenting the number of medals bet on the game. The start lever 13 is a lever switch for instructing to rotate the reels 10a, 10b, and 10c all at once. The start lever 13 is turned on when a lever having a spherical operation knob at the tip is tilted in any of the vertical and horizontal directions. When the hand is released from the lever, the spring is automatically returned to the original position by the urging force of the spring and is turned off.

  The stop buttons 14a, 14b, and 14c are push-type button switches for individually instructing to stop the rotation of the reels 10a, 10b, and 10c, and are arranged in parallel corresponding to the arrangement of the reels.

  In addition, a CR operation unit 15 including a lending switch 15a and a card return switch 15b, each of which is a push-type button switch, is provided on the front right side of the console. Although the details will be described later, the lending switch 15a is an operation switch for the player to instruct the medal lending request, and a valid prepaid card is inserted into the card insertion slot 51 of the CR lending unit 50, and the lending switch 15a is By the pressing operation, a predetermined number of medals are lent out to the player within the range of the point balance. The card return switch 15b is an operation switch for requesting the return of the prepaid card loaded in the CR lending unit 50. When the card return switch 15b is operated, the prepaid card is ejected from the card insertion slot 51 to the player. Returned.

  Further, a card balance display unit 16 for displaying numerically the point balance held by the prepaid card loaded in the CR lending unit 50 is provided at a location close to the top of the CR operation unit 15.

  Further, a settlement switch 9 is provided on the left side of the front surface of the console. When the settlement switch 9 is pressed, all medals credited to the slot machine 1 are paid back to the tray 4a. As will be described later, when a credit settlement / refund operation is performed immediately (within a predetermined time) after a medal lending operation, the slot machine 1 has an unnatural suspicion of fraud. It is presumed that it is an operation action, and the surroundings are notified by performing an effect accompanied by light and sound along with the execution of the refund.

  On the panel 17 constituting the lower panel portion of the front mask, for example, a picture (not shown) of an appearing character is printed and displayed for allowing the player to recognize the model type of the slot machine 1 and the like.

  The saucer unit 4 provided at the lowermost part of the front door 3 has a medal payout opening 18 for paying out medals by a prize payout and the like, and a sound emitting unit 19a for generating a production effect sound according to the progress of the game. , 19b are respectively disposed.

  Next, the internal structure of the main body of the slot machine 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a view showing the structure inside the housing 2 by opening the front door 3 of the main body of the slot machine 1.

  As shown in the figure, a main control board 21 that performs overall control of the overall operation of the slot machine 1 is attached to an upper position inside the housing 2. The main control board 21 is a microcomputer-based control board on which electronic components such as an interface circuit having a matching function when communicating with a CPU, ROM, RAM, and other peripheral devices, and is housed in a transparent board case. The housing 2 is fixed so as not to be detached.

  A reel unit 10 in which three reels 10a, 10b, and 10c are arranged in parallel in the axial direction is arranged in a predetermined frame facing the display window 8a formed on the front door 3 side. is set up. Each of the reels 10a, 10b, and 10c is driven to rotate by a stepping motor provided on the respective rotation shaft, and the main control board 21 has four through a spinning device board 103 (not shown) attached to the top of the reel unit 10. By sending a phase driving pulse signal to each stepping motor, the rotation operation control and stop position control of each reel are performed.

  Below the reel unit 10, there is provided a hopper unit 22 that stores medals inserted from the medal insertion portion 11 on the front surface and discharges them from the medal discharge opening 22a to pay out the receiving tray 4a when a prize is awarded. The auxiliary tank 23 adjacent to the hopper unit 22 is provided to collect medals overflowed by the hopper unit.

  Further, at the bottom of the housing 2, a main power supply device 24 composed of a constant voltage source and a power supply device substrate 25 that distributes necessary power to each device built in the slot machine 1 are accommodated in the same sheet metal case. Are arranged.

  Next, on the back surface side of the front door 3, speakers 31 a and 31 b facing the sound emitting portions 6 a and 6 b are attached at the upper position. Further, between the speakers 31a and 31b, a liquid crystal display unit 71 (not shown) as an image display device for displaying an image on the image display unit 7 and a microcomputer-based sub-control board 32 are attached behind the liquid crystal display unit 71. ing. The sub-control board 32 controls the display of the effect image by the liquid crystal display unit 71 described above, the illumination control using the effect lamps such as the upper lamp 5c and the corner lamps 5a and 5b, and the sound emission units 6a, 6b, This is a control board that mainly performs control related to game effects such as effect sound effect control using 19a, 19b, and the like.

  Below the sub-control board 32, a middle panel unit 34 is attached which is formed as a unit by forming on the middle panel plate 8 a transparent display window 8a and the like for seeing through the reels 10a, 10b, and 10c. The middle panel unit 34 includes a cold cathode fluorescent tube that irradiates the outer peripheral surfaces of the reels 10a, 10b, and 10c, an inverter 35 that drives the cold cathode fluorescent tube, and operation switches such as a start lever 13 and stop buttons 14a, 14b, and 14c. The central display board 36 for relaying the above signal to the main control board 21 on the housing 2 side is assembled.

  A medal selector 37 is attached below the middle panel unit 34. The medal selector 37 is a device that determines whether or not a medal inserted into the medal insertion unit 11 on the front surface is appropriate. The medal selector 37 is equipped with a medal sensor 37a composed of a photo interrupter. The medal sensor 37a detects a medal that the medal selector 37 determines to be appropriate, and the medal acceptance signal is sent to the main control board 21. Is output. The main control board 21 performs a process of internally storing medals by adding credits and storing them in the memory every time a medal acceptance signal is received.

  Further, below the medal selector 37, a medal receiving passage 38a that guides the medals determined to be appropriate and distributed to the hopper unit 22, and a medal (or foreign matter) that has been excluded and dropped as inappropriate by the medal selector 37 is paid to the front. A flow chute 38b for guiding to the outlet 18 and a medal payout passage 38c for guiding the medals discharged from the hopper unit 22 to the medal payout outlet 18 on the front surface are provided. Furthermore, speakers 39 a and 39 b are respectively attached to the lower part on the back side of the front door 2 so as to face the sound emitting portions 19 a and 19 b of the tray unit 4 described above.

  The slot machine 1 configured as described above enters a standby state when a prize is won in the previous game and the payout of medals is completed, or when a loss is confirmed in the previous game. In this state, when the player inserts a medal from the medal insertion unit 11, the medal is added to the credit. The credit refers to the internal storage of medals in the slot machine 1 and the number of medals stored in the slot machine 1. When the bet button 12 is pressed, the credit for the designated number is consumed. A considerable number of medals are bet on the game.

  When a medal is bet on the game and the start lever 13 is tilted, the main control board 21 starts rotating the reels 10a, 10b, and 10c all at once. At the same time, the winning combination is randomly drawn by internal processing (this is referred to as “internal lottery”), and the result is stored in a memory (an internal lottery result flag to be described later).

  Next, when the player presses the stop buttons 14a, 14b, and 14c in an arbitrary order, the main control board 21 sequentially stops the corresponding reels accordingly. Then, after all the reels 10a, 10b, and 10c are stopped, it is determined whether or not the combination of symbols displayed on each reel is coincident with the combination of symbols related to the above-described winning combination. When they match, the winning is confirmed, and the number of medals corresponding to the type of winning combination is added to the credit and awarded. When the upper limit of credit is exceeded due to a payout, the surplus number of medals is paid out from the medal outlet 18 to the tray unit 4.

  In this way, the player of the slot machine 1 performs a game operation to rotate and stop the reels 10a, 10b, and 10c, and loses the bet medals if the identification symbols variably displayed on the display window 8a are not prepared. If a winning combination is established with a combination of the identified symbols, it is possible to acquire more medals than the betted number, so that it is possible to enjoy a win / lose game with an interest in increasing the number of medals according to skill and luck.

  Next, the configuration of the control system provided in the slot machine 1 will be described with reference to the functional block diagram shown in FIG. 3, and the control operation will be described based on the program configuration diagram shown in FIG. .

  First, referring to FIG. 3, the control system of the slot machine 1 includes a control board such as a main control board 21, a sub control board 32, a spinning device board 103, a power supply board 25, and a central display board 36. Each is connected with a distribution cable.

  The main control board 21 is provided with a storage unit including a semiconductor memory such as a ROM 212 and a RAM 213 in addition to the CPU 211, and the CPU 211 executes arithmetic processing according to a system program for a slot machine game stored in advance in the ROM 212. The operation of the entire slot machine 1 is controlled.

  The CPU 211 is connected to a clock interrupt signal generation unit 214 that generates a clock signal with a constant period (for example, 1.87 msec), and in synchronization with the timer interrupt by each clock signal, the start lever 13, the stop button 14a, 14b and 14c, the bet button 12, and switch outputs and sensor outputs of the medal sensor 37a built in the medal selector 37 are read through the central display board 36.

  Further, the lending switch 15 a, the card return switch 15 b, the payment switch 9, and the card balance display unit 16 are connected to the main control board 21 through the central display board 36. The CPU 211 detects the operation of these operation switches and executes predetermined processing such as renting out medals, and the card balance display unit 16 receives the prepaid card inserted in the CR lending unit 50. Output and display data such as point balance.

  The main control board 21 includes a random number generator 215 including an oscillating element and a memory counter element that counts a short-cycle pulse signal generated by the oscillating element, and sampling for acquiring a count value of the random number generator 215. A hardware lottery circuit having a section 216 is provided. The CPU 211 acquires a random number value from the random number generation unit 215 via the sampling unit 216 at a timing related to a predetermined game operation, and performs table lottery processing such as winning combination and effect pattern based on the random value.

  Further, the CPU 211 sends a four-phase drive pulse signal generated based on the above-described clock interrupt signal to the stepping motors 101a, 101b, and 101c, which are the rotational drive sources of the reels 10a, 10b, and 10c. The current is amplified and supplied by the device substrate 103. The CPU 211 calibrates (resets) the position data every time it receives an operation signal from the reference position sensors 102a, 102b, 102c provided on each reel, and based on the drive pulse signal sent based on the position data, The rotational position of each reel is accurately controlled.

  The main control board 21 is connected to the payout motor 221 and the payout sensor 222 of the hopper unit 22 via the power supply device board 25. The CPU 211 rotates the payout motor 221 and pays out a required number of medals to the tray 4a when winning a prize, renting out medals, paying out credits, or the like. Then, when the actual payout number of medals detected by the operation of the payout sensor 222 coincides with the scheduled number, the control of stopping the payout motor is performed.

  Also, a main power supply device 24 that is provided with a main switch of the slot machine 1 and supplies power to each device and a control board as a main power supply is connected to the main control board 21 via a power supply board 25.

  The main control board 21 is connected to the CR lending unit 50 through a dedicated interface board 52 so as to be able to communicate with each other. The CR lending unit 50 performs processing such as reading and writing (updating) data stored in the CR control board 501 that controls the operation of the unit and the prepaid card inserted from the card insertion slot 51. A card RW unit 502 is provided.

  The sub-control board 32 connected to the main control board 21 is connected to the illumination control unit 321 that controls lighting or blinking of LEDs such as the upper lamp 5c and the corner lamps 5a and 5b, and the sound source data from the sound source data memory 323. The sound control unit 322 for driving and driving the speakers 31a, 31b, 39a, and 39b based on the sound signal decoded and reproduced (reproduced) and the effect image data stored in the image data memory 325 are appropriately selected to generate an image. It mainly includes a control circuit such as an image data processing unit 324 that outputs to the control board 72.

  The image control board 72 includes a VDP (Video Display Processor), a frame memory, a video RAM, and the like. Based on the image data supplied from the image data processing unit 324, a part of the image control board 72 corresponds to a moving image expression method. Then, after editing such as merging, a video signal is generated, and the liquid crystal display unit 71 performs control to display a moving image for production.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the slot machine 1 is controlled as a whole by the CPU 211 executing arithmetic processing according to a main system program stored mainly in the ROM 212 of the main control board 21. -An outline of the control operation for each subprogram that is cited and executed according to the function will be described.

[Credit management means]
The credit management program 2101 receives a medal acceptance signal which is a pulse signal corresponding to the number of inserted coins from the medal sensor 37a when a medal is inserted into the medal insertion unit 11 in a state where the game is on standby, and credits stored in the credit memory 2102 are stored. The internal storage process is performed to add the number corresponding to the number of sheets. Similarly, when the operation of the bet button 12 is detected in the game standby state, a predetermined number (for example, 1, 2 or 3) of medals is consumed from the credit stored in the credit memory 2102 accordingly. The number of medals is bet on the game.

  As will be described later, when the settlement switch 9 is operated, the credit memory 2102 is cleared to zero accordingly. At this time, the hopper unit 22 is controlled by the payment processing program 2114, and the credited number of medals are paid back to the tray 4a.

[Internal lottery means]
When the start lever 13 is operated in a state where medals are bet on the game and the CPU 211 detects the operation, the count value (for example, 0 to 0) indicated by the random number generation unit 215 at the operation timing of the start lever 13 according to the internal lottery program 2104. 65535) is acquired from the sampling unit 216 as a random value Ri. Then, with reference to the winning lottery table 2103 stored in the memory, the winning combination is selected or lost based on the numerical range including the acquired random value Ri.

  In the winning lottery table 2103, a plurality of winning combinations are assigned numerical ranges in accordance with their respective winning probabilities. In other words, the numerical range of the table is set narrower in the order of winning combination (for example, small combination, replay, regular bonus, big bonus) in which the numerical range assigned to the loss is the widest and the winning probability is the second lowest. Basically, there is a relationship in which the number of medal payouts increases when a winning combination with lower probability of winning is established.

  The internal lottery program 2104 selects the above-described numerical range including the acquired random number value Ri, and internally wins the winning combination (or loser) assigned to the selected numerical range. Then, the winning winning combination is set in the internal lottery result flag 2105, and the combination of symbols related to the identification symbol that establishes the winning combination is stored.

[Reel rotation control means]
The reel control program 2106 is triggered by the operation of the constant speed rotation control program 2107 that rotates the reels 10a, 10b, and 10c at a constant rotation speed and the operation of the stop buttons 14a, 14b, and 14c. A stop position determination program 2108 for determining the stop position of each reel based on the above and a braking control program 2109 for stopping the reels 10a, 10b, 10c at the determined positions are mainly configured.

  The reel control program 2106 refers to and updates the reel control flag 2110 formed in the work memory area on the RAM 213 as needed to control the rotational position of each reel. The reel control flag 2110 includes, for example, a reel status flag RF1, a sensor passage flag RF2, a symbol step flag RF3, a passage symbol number flag RF4, a stop symbol number flag RF5, and a step counter flag RF6 for each reel. Bytes are allocated.

  The reel state flag RF1 stores the rotation state of the reel. For example, a value such as [0] is set when the reel is stopped, [1] is set during rotation acceleration, and [2] is set during constant speed operation. Is done. The sensor passing flag RF2 is set to [FFh] (h sign means hexadecimal notation) when the reel passes the reference position during constant speed operation (that is, when the reference position sensor is activated). Is done.

  In the symbol step flag RF3, for the identification symbol passing through the center line of the display window 8a, the number of steps indicating the rotation position of the symbol divided into 19 is set. The number of steps that divides the symbol into 19 corresponds to the unit step of the stepping motor that drives the reel. That is, when the stepping motor rotates 19 steps, one identification symbol advances by one frame.

  In the passing symbol number flag RF4, the symbol number of the identification symbol currently passing on the center line is set. As described above, for example, 21 identification symbols are drawn on the peripheral surface of the reel, and the identification symbol with the symbol number set to “0” is used as the reference symbol, and the reels are rotated in the order displayed. , “0”, “1”, “2”,..., “20” are assigned to each identification symbol.

  In the stop symbol number flag RF5, a symbol number of an identification symbol to be controlled to be pulled down and stopped at the center line is set. The stop symbol number flag RF5 is set by the stop position determination program 2108 when the stop buttons 14a, 14b, and 14c are actuated. In addition, when performing immediate stop without performing pull-in control, [FFh] is set as a default.

  The step counter flag RF6 is incremented by 1 each time the stepping motor operates by a unit step while the reel is operating at a constant speed.

[Reel constant speed rotation control means]
The constant speed rotation control program 2107 starts the rotation of all the reels 10a, 10b, 10c when the start lever 13 is operated, and performs control to rotate at a constant speed. The constant speed rotation control program 2107 updates the reel control flag 2110 one by one in synchronism with the rotation of the stepping motor, so that the type of identification symbol (symbol number) displayed on the center line and its rotational position are accurate. The reels 10a, 10b and 10c are controlled to rotate at a constant rotational speed.

[Reel stop position determination means]
Next, when the corresponding stop button 14a, 14b, 14c is pressed while the reels 10a, 10b, 10c are rotating (hereinafter referred to as “stop operation”), the reel 10 is activated to determine the stop position of the reel 10. The stop position determination program 2108 to be described will be described.

  The stop position determination program 2108 first refers to the passing symbol number flag RF4 of the reel control flag 2110 for the reels corresponding to the operated stop buttons 14a, 14b, and 14c, and passes the central line at the time of the stop operation. Get the number. Further, the state of other reels (the identification symbol displayed in the display window 8a if it is rotating or stopped) is acquired with reference to the respective reel control flags 2110.

  In addition, the stop position determination program 2108 refers to the internal lottery result flag 2105 drawn in the game and checks whether any winning combination is won internally. When it is determined that any winning combination flag is set and winning, the identification symbol on which the symbol that establishes the winning combination is drawn in the combination with the identification symbol displayed on the other reels. However, if, for example, within 190 msec from the time when the stop operation is performed, the position where the identification symbol stops on the effective line is determined as the stop position of the reel.

  Further, when the stop position determination program 2108 determines that there is no identification symbol related to the winning combination in the pullable range, for the reel that has been operated to stop, the latest lost symbol from the time of the stopping operation (any winning combination) The position where the identification symbol on which the symbol is not established is displayed on the effective line is determined as the reel stop position, and the symbol number is set in the stop symbol number flag RF5.

  In this way, the control for sliding the identification symbol in the middle without stopping in order to display the specific identification symbol on the display window 8a from the time when the stop operation is performed is referred to as “pull-in control”. Further, when the game is selected such as losing, control is performed to slide the identification symbol in the middle from the time when the stop operation is performed so that the symbol related to winning is not displayed. The control method is the same as the above-described pull-in control, but in this case, it is sometimes called “kicking control”.

[Reel braking means]
Next, a braking control program 2109 for stopping the reel 10 at the position determined by the stop position determination program 2108 will be described. The braking control program 2109 performs control to brake and stop the rotating reel at a position where the identification symbol having the symbol number set in the stop symbol number flag RF5 is displayed on the center line of the display window 8a.

  Specifically, the braking control program 2109 does not brake the reel until the symbol with the symbol number set in the stop symbol number flag RF5 reaches the center line, and displays symbols in the meantime (up to four frames). Slide. When the symbol number of the identification symbol is set in the passing symbol number flag RF4 and the step flag RF3 is set to [16], all the four-phase drive pulse signals are turned on (power) to the stepping motor directly connected to the reel. Braking). By forcibly stopping the reel that is rotating at such timing, the braking force of the stepping motor and the inertial force of the reel are opposed, and the center of the identification symbol is positioned on the substantially central line and the reel is stopped.

[Winning determination and dividend method]
The winning determination program 2111 refers to the reel control flag 2110 for all the stopped reels 10a, 10b, and 10c, and the combination of symbols displayed on the effective line related to the determination becomes the winning combination indicated by the internal lottery result flag 2105 described above. It is determined whether or not it matches the symbol combination.

  When the combination of symbols related to the winning winning combination is aligned on any active line, the winning determination program 2111 determines that the winning combination has been established.

  The payout payout program 2112 passes medal payout information corresponding to the type of winning winning combination to the credit management program 2101 and causes the credit memory 2102 to add the payout number. If the credit exceeds the upper limit as a result of the payout, the medal payout control program 2113 is activated to drive the payout motor 221 of the hopper unit 22 to receive the medals for the number of medals exceeding the upper limit of the credit. I have paid out.

[CR control means]
The CR control program 2115 is mainly composed of subprograms such as a lending processing program 2116, a card return processing program 2118, and a balance display program 2119.

  The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is based on an example in which the main control board 21 (CPU 211) of the main body of the slot machine 1 executes arithmetic processing according to the CR control program 2115 to realize functions such as lending. The CR control board 501 (see FIG. 3) of the lending unit 50 may execute the program and perform processing such as medal lending described below. Further, an embodiment in which a dedicated control board (not shown) is provided in the main body of the slot machine 1 and the program is calculated and executed may be used.

  In addition, when a prepaid card is loaded into the card insertion slot 51 of the CR lending unit 50, the CR control program 2115 stores the point balance data stored in the prepaid card in the card RW unit 502 in the main initialization process. The information of the read point balance is transferred to the balance display program 2119 and displayed on the card balance display unit 16 as a numerical value.

  First, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 (a), the lending processing program 2116, when the lending switch 15a is operated and its operation is detected (step S101: YES), the settlement effect flag used by the settlement processing means described later. 2120 is set to ON (step S102). Then, the internal timer 2117 is started to count time (step S103).

  Subsequently, in the medal lending process (step S104), the CPU 211 allows the card RW unit 502 to read the point balance stored in the prepaid card loaded in the CR lending unit 50 and exchange it for the read point balance. Within the range, for example, 50 predetermined lent medals are lent out to the player.

  That is, the lending processing program 2116 cooperates with the credit management program 2101 to lend medals by raising credits. However, as described above, when the credits exceed the upper limit due to lending, the medal payout control program 2113 is operated, and the hopper unit 22 receives the surplus number of medals to the tray 4a.

  Further, by switching the lending mode setting or the like, all medals of a predetermined lending number may be paid out to the outside by the hopper unit 22 without increasing the credit.

  When the above-described medal lending is completed normally, the CPU 211 transmits a completion signal to the CR control board 501 of the CR lending unit 50. The CR control board 501 controls the card RW unit 502 in response to the reception of the completion signal, and writes and updates the new point balance data obtained by subtracting points corresponding to the number of lent medals on the prepaid card.

  In addition, when the timer 2117 that has started counting time in response to the operation of the lending switch 15a indicates that a predetermined limit time has elapsed (step S105: YES), the CPU 211 turns off the above-described settlement effect flag 2120. It sets (step S106).

  The limit time is preferably set to the shortest time in which the number of medals lent during one lending process may be consumed by the game of the slot machine 1. For example, if the lent number is 50, the shortest time required for one game time is 4.1 seconds, and the maximum number of medals (MAX bet number) consumed by one game is three, the above-mentioned is desirable. The limit time is approximately 65 seconds.

  Next, the card return processing program 2118 transmits a card return request signal to the CR control board 501 of the CR lending unit 50 when the card return switch 15b is operated and its operation is detected. When receiving the card return request signal, the CR control board 501 drives the discharging mechanism to discharge the loaded prepaid card from the card insertion slot 51 and return it to the player.

  As described above, the balance display program 2119 reads the point balance data stored in the prepaid card loaded in the CR lending unit 50 by the card RW unit 502 and receives the information to display a numerical value on the card balance display unit 16. Let

[Settlement processing means]
Next, credit settlement / medal refund processing executed by the CPU 211 in accordance with the settlement processing program 2114 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

  According to the settlement processing program 2114, when the settlement switch 9 is operated and the operation is detected (step S201: YES), the CPU 211 checks the state of the settlement effect flag 2120 (step S202).

  If the CPU 211 determines that the settlement effect flag 2120 is set to OFF (step S202: NO), it cooperates with the credit management means, clears the credit memory 2102 to zero, operates the hopper unit 22, and credits A settlement process for receiving the medals for the number of sheets stored in the memory 2102 and returning them to the tray 4a is executed (step S203).

  If the CPU 211 determines that the settlement effect flag 2120 is set to ON (step S202: YES), the CPU 211 instructs the sub control board 32 according to the settlement effect program 2121 to execute the effect lamp (for example, the corner lamp 5a) of the slot machine 1. 5b, upper lamp 5c, etc.) and sound emitting units (speakers 31a, 31b, etc.) are started to produce effects with light and sound that are different from normal payment or payout (step S204), and the surrounding players and games Notify store supervisors that credits will be settled.

  Then, the CPU 211 executes the same credit settlement processing as in step S203 described above (step S205), and after the payout of all medals that have been credited is completed, the above-described effect is ended (step S206).

  In this way, after the operation of the lending switch 15a, the credit settlement / medal reimbursement is completed before the limit time (for example, 65 seconds, which is the shortest time required for consuming all the medals of the lent number in the game) has not elapsed. If there is, the slot machine 1 makes a temporary estimation that the operation is suspected of fraud using a counterfeit card, for example. And so on.

  As described above, according to the slot machine 1 of the present embodiment, when there is a credit settlement / refund immediately after the lending switch 15a is operated (before a predetermined limit time elapses), Inform the surroundings with effects with different lights and sounds. From this, if the fraudster repeats lending and refunding of medals to obtain a large number of medals using, for example, a counterfeit prepaid card, the production accompanied by light and sound is repeated at the same time, thereby An unnatural operation action can be notified to surrounding monitoring personnel. Therefore, it is possible to frustrate or check the willingness of fraudulent players to conduct such fraudulent activities, and to facilitate the discovery of such fraudulent acts, minimizing the damage suffered by game stores and card companies. Can be suppressed.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a front external structure of a slot machine main body and a CR lending unit adjacent to the slot machine main body according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a view showing an internal structure by opening a front door of the slot machine shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a control system of the slot machine shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a control program of the slot machine illustrated in FIG. 1. 2 is a flowchart for explaining operations in lending medals and paying out credits by the slot machine shown in FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Slot machine 2 ... Housing | casing 3 ... Front door 4 ... Receptacle unit 4a ... Receptacle 5a, 5b ... Corner lamp 5c ... Upper lamp 6a, 6b ... Sound emission part 7 ... Image display part 8 ... Middle panel board 8a ... Display window 8b ... Game information display unit 8c ... Numerical information display unit 9 ... Settlement switch 10a, 10b, 10c ... Reel 11 ... Medal insertion unit 12 ... Bet button 13 ... Start lever 14a, 14b, 14c ... Stop button 15a ... Lending switch 15b ... Card return switch 16 ... card balance display section 17 ... panel 18 ... medal payout opening 19a, 19b ... sound emitting section 21 ... main control board 22 ... hopper unit 24 ... main power supply apparatus 25 ... power supply apparatus boards 31a, 31b ... speaker 32 ... Sub-control board 34 ... middle panel unit 36 ... central display board 37 ... medal selector 37a ... medal sensor 8a ... medal receiving passage 38b ... flow chute 38c ... medal payout passage 39a, 39 b ... speaker 50 ... CR lending unit 51 ... card insertion port 52 ... interface board 71 ... liquid crystal display unit 72 ... image control board 211 ... CPU 212 ... ROM
213 ... RAM 214 ... clock interrupt signal generation unit 215 ... random number generation unit 216 ... sampling unit 221 ... payout motor 222 ... payout sensor 321 ... illumination control unit 322 ... acoustic control unit 323 ... sound source data memory 324 ... image data processing unit 325 ... Image data memory 501 ... CR control board 502 ... Card RW unit 2101 ... Credit management program 2102 ... Credit memory 2103 ... Wind lottery table 2104 ... Internal lottery program 2105 ... Internal lottery result flag 2106 ... Reel control program 2107 ... Constant speed rotation control Program 2108 ... Stop position determination program 2109 ... Braking control program 2110 ... Reel control flag 2111 ... Winning determination program 2112 ... Winning dividend program 2113 ... Medal payout control program 2114 ... Fine Calculation processing program 2115 ... CR control program 2116 ... Lending processing program 2117 ... Timer 2118 ... Card return processing program 2119 ... Balance display program 2120 ... Settlement effect flag 2121 ... Settlement effect program

Claims (1)

A revolving game machine including a game medium lending device that lends game media used for a game in accordance with a player's operation,
A lending operation unit for a player to perform an operation for requesting lending of game media;
Lending processing means for lending to a player by operating the lending operation unit and internally storing a predetermined number of game media according to the operation,
A settlement operation unit for the player to perform an operation for requesting a refund of the game medium stored in the revolving game machine;
A settlement processing means for performing a refund of the game medium stored therein in response to the manipulation of the settlement operation unit;
A timer that starts counting time triggered by the operation of the lending operation unit;
When the settlement operation unit is operated and the game medium is repaid by the settlement processing means before the timer that has started counting from the operation of the lending operation unit indicates that a predetermined time has elapsed, an effect accompanied by light or sound A revolving game machine, comprising:

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